Lighting control configuration

ABSTRACT

A method for configuring a lighting system including one or more sensors for controlling one or more lighting units for providing illumination of an area. The method allows a target area to be determined for a particular sensing function, and then determines suitable sensor locations based on a mapping derived from an image of the area in question. The target area can be determined based on recognition of relevant objects such as doors and window for example. The sensor location or locations may be selected from existing sensor locations which may be integrated with a luminaire, or new sensor locations may be proposed.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to configuration of a lighting system andassociated method.

BACKGROUND

“Connected lighting” refers to a system of luminaires which arecontrolled not by (or not only by) a traditional wired, electricalon-off or dimmer circuit, but rather via a wired or more often wirelessnetwork using a digital communication protocol. Typically, each of aplurality of luminaires, or even individual lamps within a luminaire,may each be equipped with a wireless receiver or transceiver forreceiving lighting control commands from a lighting control deviceaccording to a wireless networking protocol such as ZigBee, Wi-Fi orBluetooth (and optionally also for sending status reports to thelighting control device using the wireless networking protocol). Suchsystems can be automated, or semi-automated, and frequently includesensors, either integrated into a luminaire or standalone devices, toprovide input to the system for controlling the output illumination.

Examples of sensors used in lighting systems include light sensors andmotion detectors. Such sensors allow a system to adjust lighting inresponse to changing ambient light conditions, and also in response tooccupancy or spaces such as rooms or offices. Such sensors need to beconfigured to provide appropriate coverage and operation for automatedcontrol. Next to motion and occupancy sensors, lighting systems may alsoinclude other environmental sensors such as humidity sensors, airquality sensors (CO2,CO), noise sensors (to map noise pollution acrossthe building or a city).

SUMMARY

Configuration of sensors in a lighting system can however be cumbersome,both for consumer and professional applications. Configuration mayinvolve walk-tests to assess whether a motion sensor is triggeringcorrectly from a targeted area, and where motion should be detected;typically the user has to adjust the sensor position and sensorsensitivity by trial and error until a satisfactory result is achieved.

It would be desirable to provide improved sensor configuration for alighting system.

Accordingly, in one aspect of the invention there is provided a methodfor configuring a lighting system including one or more sensors forcontrolling one or more lighting units for providing illumination of anarea, said method comprising obtaining one or more images of the area;for a given sensing function, identifying at least one target area wheresaid sensing function is to occur; mapping, based on said obtainedimage, said target area to one or more sensor locations suitable forproviding sensing at said target area; and outputting said one or moresensor locations.

In this way lighting control assets (e.g. occupancy sensors, lightsensors) and their suitability to fulfil certain lighting controlsfunctions can be automatically mapped based on a captured image of theenvironment in which the system operates. This makes configuration lesscomplex and time consuming for a user or installer.

In one embodiment, the or each target area is identified automaticallybased on analysis of the one or more obtained images. Thus the image canbe analyzed to extract information relating to use of the space, andconditions within the space, which in turn allows appropriate targetareas to be determined. Analysis may comprise object recognition inembodiments, for example recognizing one or more predetermined objects.Such objects may be predetermined objects or classes of objects, such asdoors or windows, and templates or other information may be stored aboutsuch objects to allow them to be recognized or matched in an obtainedimage. Other objects include office furniture such as desks, partitions,chairs and filing cabinets for example. In addition to objects, a lackof objects, or clear areas may be identified, which can be indicative ofthoroughfares or pathways for example. Determination of target areas maythen be based on said identified objects or pathways.

The sensor locations may be selected from one or more predeterminedlocations in examples. Typically these predetermined locationscorrespond to existing sensors in the relevant space or area. Thelocations of these existing sensors may be known in advance, ordetermined during the configuration, based on an obtained image. Thesensors may be identified in a similar way to objects such as doors andwindows described above for example.

In one embodiment, existing sensors may be mounted in or on, orintegrated into lighting units or luminaires. Luminaires may includesensor sockets, which can be field-upgraded with sensors. Therefore thesensor positions are selected from the positions of the luminaires,which again can be known in advance or determined during configuration.In some examples, a group of luminaires will each have an integratedsensor or sensors, however only one, or a subset of such sensors isdesired to perform a particular sensing role (e.g. occupancy sensing,daylight sensing) for the group. In embodiments then, a group ofluminaires can be identified and designated, and a subset or one of theluminaires can be identified for a given sensing role for the group,based on an image or images of the space covered by that group ofluminaires. Such a sensor, if present can be activated or configuredaccordingly, or a recommendation can be provided to attach or installsuch a sensor.

In examples, the target area or areas need not be automaticallyidentified based on an image, but can be identified manually, i.e. byuser input. In an example a user can input a target area into an image(i.e. a 2D image space) or in a 3D model. Input can be via a GUI forexample, and it may be possible to provide such input during capturingof the relevant image or images.

In embodiments, the method further comprises capturing said received oneor more images with an image capture device (e.g. a mobile phone whichis to be understood as including a smart phone, tablet or other mobilecomputing device other than a sensor for controlling the one or morelighting units), by a user. The user can be prompted to take such animage or images, and in embodiments, a prompt or prompts may be providedto the user to assist in timing and/or direction or position of imagecapture.

In embodiments, the one or more images includes a panoramic imagecomposed of a plurality of sub-images. Although a single image, such asa wide angle image, may be used, a panoramic image typically allows agreater field of view and captures more information.

In addition to the image or images, the corresponding viewpoint, fromwhich they were captured, may also be obtained. In embodiments, thetarget area or areas is determined based on such a view point, and insome embodiments, images from multiple different viewpoints areobtained. Preferably the image or images are taken from the primarylocation(s) where the end user will be triggering the sensors (e.g. achair or transition areas in residential or work-space in an office) orfor daylight sensing from the target area for the illumination (e.g. onthe table of an office worker).

The output of the one or more sensor locations may be provide to a userin embodiments, for example by indicating on a graphical display, eitherin 2D or 3D, and the indication may be superposed on the obtained imageor images. In the case that a sensor is not already positioned at theoutput location, the user may be prompted to provide a sensor, either bymoving an existing sensor, or by providing a new sensor. In otherembodiments however, the output can be provided directly to a lightingsystem. In this way the output can be used to configure the system, orat least certain aspects of the system automatically. For example one ormore existing sensors can be activated or deactivated, or calibrated forexample. Also the control logic controlling inputs and outputs to thelighting system can be updated accordingly. For daylight sensorplacement and/or calibration, the user may be asked to take an image atvarious times of the day (e.g. at midnight when dark and at 12:00 noon);in this way it is possible to distinguish between the contributions ofthe artificial lighting and natural lighting.

Aspects of the invention also provide a lighting system for implementinglighting control configuration methods as described above. The inventionalso provides a computer program and a computer program product forcarrying out any of the methods described herein and/or for embodyingany of the apparatus features described herein, and a computer readablemedium having stored thereon a program for carrying out any of themethods described herein and/or for embodying any of the apparatusfeatures described herein.

The invention extends to methods, apparatus and/or use substantially asherein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Any feature in one aspect of the invention may be applied to otheraspects of the invention, in any appropriate combination. In particular,features of method aspects may be applied to apparatus aspects, and viceversa.

Furthermore, features implemented in hardware may generally beimplemented in software, and vice versa. Any reference to software andhardware features herein should be construed accordingly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred features of the present invention will now be described,purely by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings,in which:

FIG. 1 shows an example of a room including a plurality of lightingunits and sensors;

FIG. 2 illustrates a lighting system schematically;

FIG. 3 illustrates a panoramic image capture process;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of an office including a lighting system;

FIG. 5 shows the room of FIG. 1, with mappings between sensors andtarget areas;

FIG. 6 is a flow diagram illustrating an example of a process forconfiguration of a lighting system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 shows a lighting system installed or otherwise disposed in anenvironment 102, e.g. an indoor space such as a room, however theenvironment need not be indoors, and could be outdoors, such as a streetfor example. The lighting system includes one or typically a pluralityof luminaires, each comprising one or more lamps (illumination emittingelements) and any associated housing, socket(s) and/or support. LEDs maybe used as illumination emitting elements, but other alternatives suchas incandescent lamps e.g. halogen lamps are possible. A luminaire is alighting device or unit for emitting illumination on a scale suitablefor illuminating an environment 102 occupiable by a user. In thisexample, luminaries include a plurality of ceiling mounted downlightersexemplified by 104 and a floor standing lamp 106. A wide variety ofdifferent types of luminaire are of course possible, includinguplighters, spotlights, strip lighting etc. A system may includemultiple instances of a luminaire type, and multiple different luminairetypes. Luminaires can be portable (i.e. their location can be changedeasily, and can even continue to run for a limited period of timewithout connection to mains due to internal energy storage units).Luminaires such as downlighters 104 or lamp 106 may include anintegrated sensor, such as a movement sensor or light sensor.Additionally or alternatively one or more dedicated sensors such asmovement sensor 108 may be included in the system. Also shown in theroom of FIG. 1 are a door 110 and a window 112.

Referring to FIG. 2, a lighting management or control system 100 isillustrated schematically. The lighting system, or at least the lightingunits or luminaires 202 thereof, may be installed in an indoor space orenvironment such as a room or office or shop, or potentially in anoutdoor environment such as a town or city or park, for example.

A plurality of lighting units or luminaires 202 are provided, which maytake a wide variety of forms such as those discussed in relation toFIG. 1. The lighting units typically include one or more light emittingelements, such as LED elements or lamp elements. The lighting units areconnected to a network 204 via lighting drivers or controllers 206. Eachlighting unit may have a dedicated controller as in the case ofcontrollers 206 a, or alternatively a common controller may be providedfor a group of lamps as in 206 b. In the case of a common controller, anadditional, dedicated controller or driver (not shown) may be providedfor each lighting unit. A dedicated controller for a lighting unit maybe integrated into the lighting unit.

Lighting drivers or controllers are able to send and receivecommunications signals to the network, and can use such communicationsignals to appropriately drive the lighting unit(s) to provide desiredoutput illumination. Additionally or alternatively, lighting controllersmay be able to communicate directly to other lighting controllers, asshown by a dashed line in FIG. 2.

A plurality of sensors 210 are provided, coupled to the lighting system200 via network 204. The sensors are typically arranged in or around theenvironment to be illuminated by the lighting system, and can sense awide variety of environmental or ambient conditions from electromagneticsignals to acoustic signals, to biological or chemical signals forexample, for providing information about the environment and events inthe environment. Examples of sensors include an IR detector, a camera, amicrophone, a motion detector, a chemical sensor, a light sensor, a UVsensor, and a position sensor, although many other types of sensor areequally possible. A sensor or sensors may also be integrated with alighting device, as shown by sensor 210 a, which is connected to thedriver 106 a of a lighting unit.

The system may further include one or more user control units 212 toallow a user or users to interface with the lighting system. The usercontrol unit may be a dedicated unit such as a control panel, or remotecontrol, but may also be any device which is capable of acting as aninterface which can communicate with the system, such as a mobiletelephone, computer, tablet or smartwatch for example, running anapplication or “app”. Preferably the user control unit 212 provides agraphical user interface (GUI) for example on a touchscreen. In FIG. 2,the user control unit is shown as a standalone device, however it ispossible for one or more such units to be integrated into othercomponents of the system, such as central management system (CMS) 114for example.

The central management system (CMS) provides control logic to controlthe lighting system, and in particular the output of lighting units 202,in response to a plurality of inputs, for example from sensors 210 anduser control units 212, and from stored programs, settings, schedulesand/or routines which may be stored in a memory 216, which may inexamples be integrated with CMS 214. The CMS (and optionally memory 216)may be a single, central controller, or may be distributed, withseparate units controlling groups of lighting units for example. It iseven possible that the CMS is completely distributed to the lightingunits themselves, in examples where some or all of the lighting unitsinclude some processing capability. Such a distributed system mayfurther comprise a single controller for coordinating overall controlfor example.

The system may further include a network interface 218, for connectingthe system with other networks or devices. This allows the system toexchange information with other lighting systems, which may be similarsystems for example, or with networks such as the internet, or othernetworks related to the space or environment in which the system islocated.

Network 204 which allows the various components of the system 200 tocommunicate with each other may be a single network, or may in fact becomprised of multiple, possibly overlapping networks. The network ornetworks may use any wired or wireless communication protocol, or acombination of such protocols. Examples of possible protocols includeEthernet, TCP/IP, cellular or mobile communications protocols such asGSM, CDMA, GPRS, 3G, LTE etc., Wifi (such as IEEE 802.11), Bluetooth orZigbee. Where messages or data are exchanged between two systemcomponents using a combination of protocols, a converter may be providedto convert the data or message from one protocol or format to another.

FIG. 3 illustrates a panoramic image and constituent image portions.

The term panoramic image generally refers to an image that is generatedby stitching multiple images together by applying a suitable imageprocessing algorithm that is executed on a processor comprising one ormore CPUS and/or GPUS, wherein each image is taken, i.e. captured, atnon-overlapping moments in time. Such image stitching algorithms areknown in the art, and are readily available. Each of these images isherein referred to as a sub-image of the panoramic image. FIG. 3illustrates the generic concept of capturing a panoramic image 302 via ascanning motion of a camera device from right to left. The term“scanning motion” refers to the motion of the camera device, as multiplesub-images are captured as part of the panoramic image.

As can be seen in FIG. 3, an image capture device such as a camera 304,captures a plurality of individual sub-images 306, 308 at a plurality ofdifferent instances in time, and these are combined, i.e. stitchedtogether, to form the panoramic image. The field of view of the cameradevice determines the extent of the physical space that is captured ineach sub-image, i.e. each sub-image captures a region of the physicalspace that is smaller than the region of the physical space that iscaptured by the panoramic image. The field of view of the camera devicerefers to the solid angle through which the camera's image sensor issensitive to electromagnetic radiation (e.g. photons of visible light).The field of view covered by an individual image refers to the field ofview of the camera when the image is captured, which depends on theposition and orientation of the camera.

In some embodiments, the camera device may capture multiple sub-imagesof the same region of physical space. That is, the region of physicalspace that falls within the field of view of the camera device may becaptured multiple times before a subsequent sub-image, covering adifferent region of the physical space, is captured.

It will be appreciated that, whilst FIG. 3 is shown from the perspectiveof a user performing a scanning motion from side to side, in reality, auser may perform a scanning motion in any direction, in any of threespatial dimensions. Therefore component of scanning in an upwards anddownwards direction can be included, so the panoramic image is notnecessarily bounded by the height dimension of an individual sub image.Furthermore, a user may rotate their camera device through any angle,about any axis, or combination of axes, in three spatial dimensions. Inmost circumstances it is anticipated that the user will wish to capturea panoramic image of the physical space that is in their own field ofview, which in turn, is most likely to involve rotating their body, andconsequently their camera device. Thus the panoramic image has a widerfield of view than any one of the images individually, in the sense thatit corresponds to light captured over a greater solid angle and hence,from a larger spatial area than any one image alone. In other words, thestitching together effectively widens the field of view of the camera,beyond its physical limitations.

Imaging a scene or environment, such as by taking a panoramic image,allows objects in the image to be identified and can allow the positionof objects in the image to be determined. More generally, imaging anenvironment or space allows a modelling or mapping of the space to beperformed, and can allow spatial relationships between objects, planesand surfaces in that space to be determined. Example techniques foridentifying and locating objects include multiple cameras (stereoscopicvision) IR depth imaging, laser measurement such as lidar, or ultra-wideband techniques for example. For specific objects such as luminaires orsensors (or luminaires having embedded sensors) those objects can beadapted to be identifiable, for example by emitting coded light, or RFsignals.

Therefore, as the user captures an image from his or her viewpoint,information about the luminaires and/or sensors in the image can eitherbe captured automatically (e.g. reading QR codes on the sensor or asensor having beacons supporting precision localization and reading outmodel number) or can later be added by the user by indicating theposition of sensors on the image. One embodiment for precisionlocalization makes use of known Ultra-wideband (UWB) technology, whichis capable of precision locating and tracking. If UWB is used in thecommissioning device and the sensors, it is possible to point andidentify a sensor and its MAC ID.

From capturing an image or images, such as a panoramic image, thefollowing information may be obtained:

The position of occupancy sensorsThe spatial coverage of occupancy sensors (which part of the room can becovered by each occupancy sensor)The quality of sensor coverage at areas relevant from the perspective ofthe end-user (e.g. sitting living room couch or entering the room viathe door)The position & size of windows (incl. North-South orientation) tooptimize daylight sensingThe position of luminaires (to enable daylight sensing at those lights)

Based on this information the system may generate a 2D or 3D map ormodel of the sensors, windows, sensor coverage areas and the sensitivityof sensor to recognize motion at the primary locations of the user.

The capture of an image can further allow a primary viewing positionand/or direction of viewing to be determined. The primary viewingposition can be taken as the position from which the image or images arecaptured for example. The primary viewing direction may be indicated bya specific user input, for example during a panning action for taking apanoramic image. Alternatively the primary viewing direction can beestimated based on the content of the captured image, for exampleidentification of a television may indicate a primary viewing directionin a cinema room. Another example using the primary viewing direction isfor an office worker typing on his computer. It is desired that themotion sensor is mounted in such a way that it can detect the minormotion of the fingers (i.e. fingers are not blocked by the body).

By extracting the spatial relationship between a sensor position and adesired target detection area from an image, it is possible tointuitively generate high quality automated lighting scenes withsensors. Where a plurality of sensors already exist, the best matchingsensor or sensors for fulfilling a certain sensing role (occupancy,daylight) in a certain light scene can be determined. This may beparticularly applicable when sensors are integrated into luminaires.This will commonly lead to increased spatial density of sensors comparedto the classical group sensing with just one centrally mounted sensorper subspace; examples with highly granular sensing can be found bothwithin professional applications and consumer applications. When usingintegrated sensors within each fixture (e.g. for each troffer in an openplan office), the sensor density may be so high that it is sufficient toenable sensing only for a subset of the available sensors whileretaining the sensing quality; by reducing the number of active sensors,it is possible to reduce the sensor-related communication load of thewireless network and hence enable more luminaires on one gateway.

The choice of which subset of the available sensors to activate may bedependent on the selected lighting control scheme or scene; for instancefor an auto-on scene (i.e. a sensor switches on a light when a personenters the room) the active sensor should ideally be located next to thedoor, while in the case of a room with manual-on/auto-off control scheme(user has to always press the wall switch to activate light, while thelight is automatically switched off after, say, 15 minutes of vacancy)the active sensor should be placed in the middle of the room to detectif a person is still present on the desk area.

An example of a professional office application will be given withreference to FIG. 4, which shows a schematic plan view of an office orworkspace 410. The plan shows a window 430 at one end of the space, anda structural pillar 432 located by the window. The space includes 16ceiling mounted luminaires 420 arranged in a 4×4 configuration. Eachluminaire has an integrated light sensor and motion sensor in thisexample. A logical subspace comprises six luminaires identified bydashed box 412, and may be delineated by placement of office furnituresuch as desks and cubicle partitions for example.

An image, or images of the office space (which may be a panoramic image)can be obtained, and analyzed. By using spatial analysis or mappingbased on the image, it is possible to identify the window 430 and pillar432, and determine the relative positions of these objects. Thepositions of the luminaires may also be determined from an image, or mayalready be known. It is desirable for a daylight sensor for controllingthe group 412 to be located adjacent to the window, however it isrecognized by the image analysis that the column partially blocks thenatural light underneath luminaire 422. Hence the luminaire 424 isselected as the best sensor position for daylight sensing.

Also as part of the image analysis, it is possible to identify a walkwayor access route indicated by dashed arrow 434. For the purpose ofoccupancy sensing, it is determined that a sensor placement away fromsuch a walkway would be beneficial to avoid false triggers from a passerby using the walkway or access route. Therefore either luminaire 426 or428 is selected as the best occupancy sensor location for the group 412.

In the above example, possible sensor locations are limited to thepositions of the sensors integrated into pre-installed luminaires.However, modern office applications make increasingly use personal tasklights and free-floor standing luminaires; some of those luminairesalready have integrated occupancy sensors; these personal task lightsand free-floor standing luminaires are inherently movable by end-users.Such moveable luminaires can be identified in an image of the space inquestion, and based on the image the location can be determined. Hence,facility managers or end-users can be offered an easy way tore-configure the sensor configuration in a lighting system, simply byobtaining an image or images, after each configuration change in theroom (e.g. rearrangement of desks and free-floor-standing lights & tasklights).

Furthermore, while fixture-integrated sensors are typicallymains-powered, also battery operated sensors are frequently used both inprofessional applications and residential applications. Such batteryoperated sensors offer freedom of placement location. Therefore, as wellas selecting placement options for sensors from among existing placementof sensors (and equivalently luminaires having integrated sensors) newplacement options can be suggested, even where no current sensor orluminaire exists. Also energy-harvesting sensors are becoming popular;these sensors get energized via a solar cell, requiring placement in alocation with sufficient daylight or close to a permanently-on emergencyluminaire in the egress path. The app can advise on whether anenergy-harvesting sensor is possible in a certain room and if yes, whereit should be placed.

FIG. 5 shows the scene or area of FIG. 1, subject to analysis of animage of the scene to configure sensor placement. The doorway 510 can beidentified, and a target area 540 on the floor adjacent to the doorwaycan be determined for occupancy or motion sensing. Based on a spatialmapping of the room, which can be obtained based on an image or images,sensor 504 can be identified as providing coverage of the target area,and as being most suitable for occupancy sensing here. Thecharacteristics or sensing parameters of the sensor may be known, orestimated, to map a target area on the floor to the point on the ceilingfor example. Similarly, the window 512 can be identified, and a targetarea 542 designated for daylight sensing. Based on the geometry of theroom, sensor 506 is determined as most suitable for daylight sensing.

In the above, target areas 540 and 542 may be determined automatically,based on processing or an image of the scene, and recognition ofparticular features associated with a sensing function, such as a windowand a door. Target areas may however be input by other means, such asmanual input. A target area 544 on a floor for example can be input tothe system manually, where it is desired to detect the presence of aperson or persons. Based on this input, a location 508 on the ceilingcan be designated for placement of a standalone sensor for example.Alternatively or additionally lamp 520 may be identified as a sensorlocation for partially covering target area 544. It could also furtherbe suggested that the lamp be moved to location 522 better to cover thetarget area 544.

In a similar manner (although not illustrated), in the example of aliving room, where a user desires occupancy control, comprises a couchand several lazy chairs arranged around the couch table. The system canidentify, based on a captured image or images, a sensor mountingposition which covers the relevant chair areas where users will sit, butmay not be able cover the adjacent transition area behind the chairs. Ina professional office application example, the system may extract thelocation of the entrance door to a private-office room and suggestplacement of the occupancy sensor in such a way that the sensor does notget triggered by passers-by in the hallway (to prevent false trigger ifthe door is open).

Optionally, more than one viewpoint can be used for imaging in order toperform mapping of a space, and sensor positions. Imaging is preferablyperformed from the primary location(s) where motion has to be detected.For example, if a living room has one entrance area with a door to thehallway and in its vicinity another door to the staircase, it isdesired—to avoid clutter—to just place one occupancy sensor whichtriggers when somebody enters one of the two doors. In this case twoimages can be captured from the two target areas, and based on the twoimages the system can determine whether a single occupancy sensor may beused for motion detection. It may also be useful to shoot a series ofpanoramic images or video along the primary walking paths within theroom (e.g. transition path from the kitchen to the couch).

In addition to determining location, a sensor type may be determined orsuggested, and where sensors have variable parameters, settings for suchparameters may be output. With advanced sensing technologies such ascameras, the sensitivity for certain areas of a room may be increasedwith respect to others. For example then, a sensor type (PIR vsMicrowave), sensor mounting type (ceiling-mounted, corner mounted,sensor integrated in a lightbulb), model number or specifications suchas optimal detection field of view may be determined. The system mayguide the user by visualizations where to mount and position the sensor(e.g. using the image of the room or augmented reality).

One well known source of false occupancy trigger is air draft from anopen window moving objects within the room, hence leading to falseoccupancy triggers. The spatial relationship between sensor location andthe room's windows & doors (combined with status via a standard wirelessopen-close window/door sensor for example) enables the home automationsystem to reduce the sensor sensitivity whenever the room's window isopen.

As already noted, the “scene” or type of lighting setting or output maybe taken into account when configuring sensors. For example, based onthe image mapping, an optimal role of the sensor for a specific lightingscene can assigned to each sensor. For instance, in a scene “watching TVon the couch”, the sensor covering the couch is used at highestsensitivity setting to recognize fine motion (at expense of the sensor'sbattery life), while the sensors in the other part of the room are usedat low sensitivity or may even be temporarily disabled.

FIG. 6 is a flow diagram illustrating an example of a process forconfiguration of sensors in a lighting control system.

In step S602, an image or images are obtained of a space or of anenvironment in which a lighting system is to be employed. The image maybe a panoramic image as highlighted above, and may be from a singleviewpoint, or multiple images may be obtained from multiple differentviewpoints. In an optional step S604, the image or images are subject toprocessing to recognize objects. The identification, and position ofsuch identified objects can be used to better understand how the spaceis used by occupants, and the conditions within the space. For examplethe most likely routes are between doors or access points, or alongwalkways clear from obstructions such as desks or filing cabinets.Identified windows, skylights or other features which allow daylightinto a space provide input as to the distribution of natural light inthe space, and possibly also ventilation and air movement. Such objects,used for assessing the environment, are typically not part of thelighting system, i.e. non-lighting, and non-sensing. However, lightingand sensing objects may also be identified.

In step S606, one or more target areas are identified. Such target areasare typically identified for a particular sensing role, such asoccupancy/motion sensing or ambient light sensing. In some cases, thetarget area may be relevant to a specific light pattern or a particularcontrol function or interaction with a sensor output, for examplewhether detection turns a light on, or absence of detection turns alight off, or both for example. The target area or areas may be based onobjects identified in step S604, or may be input manually. The targetareas could be identified directly onto an obtained image, or onto amodel or other representation of the space.

The spatial relationship between a target area and a sensor location orlocations is established at step S608. This relationship can bedetermined based on an obtained image or images, or a model orrepresentation of the space based on such images. Such a model can beobtained by using known software and algorithms for constricting 3Drepresentations from one or mode 2D images, typically by attributing adepth value to points in an image. Sensor parameters such as range andfield of view can also be used to map a target area to a sensorlocation.

The sensor location may be selected from a number of possible existingsensor locations, which locations may be integrated into luminaires.

Lastly at step S610, the sensor location or locations are output. Theoutput may be to a user to allow them or prompt them to input settingsto a lighting system or to physically move a sensor or luminaire forexample, or the output may be directly to a lighting system to changecertain configuration settings or parameters.

It will be understood that the present invention has been describedabove purely by way of example, and modification of detail can be madewithin the scope of the invention. Each feature disclosed in thedescription, and (where appropriate) the claims and drawings may beprovided independently or in any appropriate combination.

The various illustrative logical blocks, functional blocks, modules andcircuits described in connection with the present disclosure may beimplemented or performed with a general purpose processor, a digitalsignal processor (DSP), an application specific integrated circuit(ASIC), a field programmable gate array (FPGA) or other programmablelogic device (PLD), discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardwarecomponents, or any combination thereof designed to perform the functionor functions described herein, optionally in combination withinstructions stored in a memory or storage medium. A described processormay also be implemented as a combination of computing devices, e.g., acombination of a DSP and a microprocessor, or a plurality ofmicroprocessors for example. Conversely, separately described functionalblocks or modules may be integrated into a single processor. The stepsof a method or algorithm described in connection with the presentdisclosure may be embodied directly in hardware, in a software moduleexecuted by a processor, or in a combination of the two. A softwaremodule may reside in any form of storage medium that is known in theart. Some examples of storage media that may be used include randomaccess memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), flash memory, EPROM memory,EEPROM memory, registers, a hard disk, a removable disk, and a CD-ROM.

Other variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood andeffected by those skilled in the art in practicing the claimedinvention, from a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and theappended claims. In the claims, the word “comprising” does not excludeother elements or steps, and the indefinite article “a” or “an” does notexclude a plurality. A single processor or other unit may fulfil thefunctions of several items recited in the claims. The mere fact thatcertain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims doesnot indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used toadvantage. A computer program may be stored and/or distributed on asuitable medium, such as an optical storage medium or a solid-statemedium supplied together with or as part of other hardware, but may alsobe distributed in other forms, such as via the Internet or other wiredor wireless telecommunication systems. Any reference signs in the claimsshould not be construed as limiting the scope.

1. A method for configuring a lighting system including one or moresensors for controlling one or more lighting units for providingillumination of an area, said method comprising: obtaining one or moreimages of the area; for a given sensing function, identifying, based onsaid obtained one or more images, at least one target area where saidsensing function is to occur; determining, based on said obtained one ormore images and said identified at least one target area, one or moresensor locations suitable for providing said sensing function at saidtarget area; and prompting a user to provide a new sensor or move anexisting sensor to said one or more sensor locations.
 2. A methodaccording to claim 1, wherein one or more predetermined objects areidentified in the one or more obtained images, and said target area isbased on said identified predetermined objects.
 3. A method according toclaim 2, wherein said predetermined objects include at least one of adoor, a window, a corridor, a desk, a wall, a ceiling fan, or an HVACair outlet.
 4. A method according to claim 1, wherein said target areais identified manually.
 5. A method according to claim 1, wherein saidone or more images includes a panoramic image composed of a plurality ofsub-images.
 6. A method according to claim 1, wherein said at least onetarget area is determined based on a viewpoint of said one or moreimages.
 7. A method according to claim 1, wherein said one or moreobtained images include images from at least two different viewpoints.8. A method according to claim 1, further comprising capturing saidobtained one or more images with an image capture device, by a user. 9.A method according to claim 8, wherein said image capture device is amobile phone.
 10. A method according to claim 1, wherein said one ormore sensor locations are output to a user.
 11. A method according toclaim 10, wherein said one or more sensor locations are output to theuser through a map, said map derived from said obtained one or moreimages.
 12. A method according to claim 10, wherein said one or moresensor locations are output to the user by indicating said one or moresensor locations on said obtained one or more images.
 13. A methodaccording to claim 1, wherein said one or more sensor locations areoutput to said lighting system directly.
 14. A computer programcomprising instructions which, when executed on a computer, cause thatcomputer to perform the method of claim 1.